Essay On Concussions

Concussion injury rates are growing rapidly, and no one seems to know how to stop the growth. Most athletes that participate in contact sports are bound to get at least one concussion in their career. A concussion is caused by a sudden blow or jolt to the head or body, a fall, or another injury that jars or shakes the brain inside the skull ("Concussion: Causes, Symptoms, Diagnosis, Treatment, and Prevention"). Despite the fact that concussions usually do not show visible signs of traumatic brain injury, more commonly known as TBI’s, they are still very dangerous and should be taken seriously (“Concussion: Causes, Symptoms, Diagnosis, Treatment, and Prevention”). Most people do not realize the effects that concussions have on athletes and what to do if they have one. If there is a chance someone has a concussion, it is advised that the person who sustained the concussion should avoid physical and cognitive (mental) exertion (“Sports Concussion”). If cognitive exertion causes symptoms to worsen, it is advised …show more content…
What You Need to Know”). The player should not exert his or herself cognitively or physically. Cognitive exertion consists of activities such as school work, puzzles, trivia questions, or even playing board games. Also, the concussion recipient should avoid electronic activities like video games or watching a video online. When you have a concussion the eyes become very sensitive to light, which results in migraines and extreme headaches (“Concussion”). Most athletes are so eager to get back in the action that they go back to the game too early. This results in something called second impact syndrome. Second impact syndrome is even more dangerous than the initial concussion. SIS is more deadly than the initial impact, since the brain is still in the healing process (“Brain Injury: An Overview - What Is It and What Does It